Mixing tube



Sept. 16, 1969 e. SCHWARTQZMAN MIXING TUBE Filed May 10, 1968 INVENTOR.

FIG. 5

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,467,282 MIXING TUBE Gilbert Schwartzman,20 Wilmot Circle, Scarsdale, NY. 10583 Filed May 10, 1968, Ser. No.728,222 Int. Cl. B65d 35/22; B67d /60 U.S. Cl. 222-94 8 Claims ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE A mixing tube for use with two materials which have anextended shelf life when not mixed, but which must be used relativelysoon after mixture to prevent deterioration. The mixing tube includes asqueezable tube and a cap with the tube having a plug engageable with acylindrical projection depending from the cap to initially preventmixture of the materials, but which allows for mixture of the materialsupon loosening of the cap.

This invention relates to a mixing tube, and has for its primary objectthe provision of a single package assembly for facilitating the separateshelf storage of two substances adapted to be thereafter mixed, and forfurther facilitating the application of the mixture.

The present invention is especially adapted for use with two materialsor substances which have an extended shelf life when not mixed, butwhich must be utilized relatively soon after mixture to preventdeterioration. Various cosmetics, medications, hair dyes, pigments,epoxy adhesives, polishes, cleansing solutions and the like have theforegoing characteristics. For example, conventional hair dyes employ abase material such as a peroxide solution or the like, with which apigmented material or solution is mixed for immediate application on thehair. The color is determined by the make-up of the pigmented solution.If the pigmented material is mixed with the base and allowed to stand,the mixture may rapidly deteriorate and thus become unusable. It isoften very messy to mix these solutions together using separatecontainers, and the present invention overcomes these difficulties byproviding a unitary storage and mixing facility. Embodiments of theinvention also have the additional advantage of providing for convenientapplication of the mixed fluid by providing for controlled flow of themixed fluid onto the applicator surface.

One of the important objects of the invention resides in the provisionof a tube having an extended neck provided with an apertured web havinga centrally disposed plug adapted to seat in a central containercylinder depending from a threaded cap so that in a fully closedposition the plug seals the container and in a partially closed positionthe material in the container is allowed to pass from the container intothe tube.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a squeezabletube or like container that permits the separate shelf storage of twosubstances of an unstable mixture and which facilitates the mixture ofthe two substances and further facilitates the application of themixture immediately after mixing all without removing the substances orrequiring any exterior handling thereof.

Previously, certain mixing containers had been devised such as thatdisclosed in my previous United States Patent No. 3,347,410 issued Oct.17, 1967 for Mixing Assemblies for Applicators. The instant inventionhas advantages thereover because in at least one embodiment thereof onlytwo plastic molded parts are employed thereby simplifying the entireconstruction and use while substantially reducing cost of production.

Still further objects and features of this invention re- 3,467,282Patented Sept. 16, 1969 side in the provision of a mixing tube which issimple and inexpensive to manufacture, easy to use, capable of mixingfluid, such as hair coloring dyes and the like, of various viscositiesin an elfective manner, and which is especially adapted for use inconnection with cosmetics, medications, hair dyes and tints, polishes,and the like.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of theinvention, which will become apparent as the following descriptionproceeds, are attained by this mixing tube, preferred embodiments ofwhich have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way ofexample only, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded vertical sectional view of a mixing tubeconstruction in accordance with the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the plane of line 22in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the mixing tube in aposition during filling thereof;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view showing the mixing device in mixingposition;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 4 showing the mixingtube during the stage of final dispensing of the mixed product;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating details of a modified form ofcap; and,

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of an additional modified embodimentof the invention.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein likereference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views,reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate an embodiment of thepresent invention. The embodiment 10 is formed of two main parts, asqueezeable tube, generally indicated at 12, and a cover generallyindicated at 14.

The tube 12 includes a ube body 15 preferably molded out of any suitablesynthetic plastic material and is provided with an elongated neck 16having a lower threaded portion 18. Integrally formed inside the neckand well spaced from the open end 20 thereof is a web 22 provided, as isbest shown in FIGS 1 and 2, with a plurality of spaced openings 24therein. These openings 24 are of a selected size and shape as well asof a selected number in order to take into account the viscosity of thematerials packaged. The web 22 includes a hemispherical plug 26 whichrises toward the open end 20 from the center thereof.

The cap 14 is provided with a top 28 and a cylindrical outer wall 30provided at its lower end with internal threads 32. The threads 32 areadapted to be threadedly engaged with the threaded portion 18.Downwardly projecting from the top 28 of the cap is a sylindricalprojection 34 which terminates short of the lower end 36 of the cap andjust beyond the start of the threads 32. The cylindrical projection 34is concentric with the outer wall 30. When the cap 14 is screwed tightlydown upon the neck 16 of the tube 12, the plug 26 will frictionallyengage, close, and extend intothe cylindrical projection 34 and forms aseal therefor. Further, the lower edge 38 of the cylindrical projectionis adapted to engage the web 22 and seal the openings 24.

If, for example, a material such as a pigmented material is placed inthe container 40 defined by the cylindrical projection 34 and the top 28and thereafter the tube in an inverted position is threadedly engagedwith the cap 14, then the pigmented material will be sealed in thecontainer 40 after which the tube 12 may be filled and have the lowerend thereof crimped as at 42 to seal another material such as a basematerial 44 within the tube. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4, the cap maybe loosened or partially removed permitting the pigmented material toflow in the direction of arrows 46 through the openings 24 to admix withthe base material in the tube. Applying pressure as indicated by arrows48 on the side walls of the tube, the mixed materials may then bedispensed.

In FIG. 6 there is shown a modified form of the invention wherein one ormore apertures 50 may be formed in the top of the cap so as to permitmaterial to flow therefrom. These apertures 50 may be provided withclosure means such as tear tapes, frangible closures, or the like andbristles 52 may be fixed to the top so that material may flow thereonand thereafter be applied without the necessity of ever completelyremoving the cap from the tube.

Referring now to FIG. 7, herein there is shown a novel cap 114 which isprovided with a cylindrical side wall having internal threads 132. Theside walls 130 include a flange 133, which is used to hold a cover inposition, the cover extending across an opening 137 formed in the top128 of the cap 114. A valve assembly 124 of the type shown in my UnitedStates Patent No. 3,203,026 may be employed and includes a valve head139'. Helical coils 141 are integrally formed with the valve head 139and a mounting ring 143 is adapted to seat on a rib 145 integrallyformed with the cylindrical projection 134, which corresponds to theprojection 34 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. In this form of theinvention, a gasket 158 is provided to form a positive seal for thevalve assembly so that material within the container formed by thecylindrical projection 134 and the top 128 will be completely sealeduntil the top 114 is partially removed from the tube. Then, afterinitial depression of the valve head, the contents of the tube whenmixed with the material contained by the cylindrical projection 134 maythen be dispensed and applied in a convenient manner.

A latitude of modification, substitution and change is intended in theforegoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of theinvention will be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures.

I claim:

1. A mixing tube comprising a first container having a first materialtherein, first container provided with a neck having an open end and athreaded portion, a web integrally formed with said neck and extendingacross said neck spaced from said open end, said web having a centralplug rising upwardly therefrom, said web having at least one openingtherethrough, and a cap having a threaded means having a top and acylindrical projection integrally formed with and depending from saidtop forming a second container, said plug extending into andfrictionally engaging said cylindrical projection, a second material insaid second container, said plug normally preventing contact betweensaid first material and said second material, and threaded means on saidcap threadedly engaging said threaded portion for thre'adedly advancingsaid cap partially off of said neck so that said plug is separated fromsaid cylindricalprojection to allow said second material to mix withsaid first material.

2. A mixing tube according to claim 1, wherein said first container is asqueezable tube.

3. A mixing tube according to claim 1, wherein said cylindricalprojection is engageable with said web for overlying and closing saidopening.

4. A mixing tube according to claim 1, wherein said plug ishemispherical in shape.

5. A mixing tube according to claim 1, wherein said top is provided withan aperture therein, and closure means for initially closing saidaperture so that after mixing of said first and second materials saidclosure means may be removed to permit the mixed materials to bedispensed without entirely removing said cap.

6. A mixing tube according to claim 5, including bristles on said top.

7. A mixing tube according to claim 1, wherein said top is provided witha valve opening therein forming a valve seat, a valve assembly includinga valve head engageable with said valve seat to close said opening andbeing movable with respect to said valve seat to control flow of mixedmaterials through said valve opening, said valve assembly furtherincluding a mounting ring, a rib on said cylindrical projection holdingsaid mounting ring, said valve assembly also including resilient helicalcoils integrally connected to said mounting ring urging said valve headagainst said valve seat, and cover means secured to said top andextending across said opening so that upon depression of said cover saidvalve head is pushed away from said valve seat against the forcesexerted by said helical coils.

8. A mixing tube according to claim 7, wherein said first container is asqueezable tube, said cylindrical projection being engageable with saidweb for overlying and closing said opening, said plug beinghemispherical in shape.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1l/l967 Webb 222-94 X 4/1968Hildebrandt 222-145 X US. Cl. X.R. 222145, 501

